Saint Wenna

Wenna (Welsh: Gwen) was a medieval princess and Christian martyr who flourished in Wales and Cornwall. Later venerated as a saint, she is honored at multiple churches in Cornwall and Devon.

Life
According to the 12th-century Life of Nectan, Wenna was one of the twelve daughters of Brychan, a legendary king of Brycheiniog (modern-day Wales). Her siblings included Nectan, Mabyn, Ninnoc, and numerous other Brythonic saints. According to tradition, she was martyred by Saxons at Talgarth in 492.

Veneration
Two churches and two chapels have been dedicated to a saint by the name of Wenna: a 12th-century chapel at Cheristow in Hartland parish in Devon, the 13th-century parish church of St Wenn, a 14th-century chapel at St Kew, and the 15th-century parish church of Morval, Cornwall. The dedication of the parish church of Morval, however, is sometimes attributed to another Saint Wenna, a 5th-century queen of Cornwall and sister of Saint Non. Wenna may have also had a holy well dedicated to her at St Wenn, but no specific records corroborate this.

Her feast day is 18 October, which is shared with the other Saint Wenna.